| If you are operating a small to medium sized | | | | timeframes for rectifying outages. Try to get |
| business, it may be tempting to skimp on internet | | | | that with a residential DSL provider. Generally, not |
| by going with standard DSL rather than | | | | going to happen. Because T-1 providers cater to |
| committing to the higher priced T-1 bandwidth. | | | | business level customers, and because they do |
| While the monthly cost difference between the | | | | not make their money by providing cheap, bulk |
| two can be discouraging, it is very important to | | | | internet, they are able to personally cater to their |
| consider that the old adage 'you get what you | | | | clients. This personal level of service is one of the |
| pay for' is very applicable to internet service. | | | | biggest distinguishing factors between DSL and |
| While you may save money on the monthly | | | | T-1, to the untrained eye, and it can be invaluable. |
| charges by choosing DSL over T-1, there is a high | | | | When your business is bleeding money due to the |
| probability that any money you save in monthly | | | | fact that you have no internet access, getting it |
| charges will be lost (and then some) if you | | | | up and running is of the essence. And T-1 |
| encounter a long-lasting outage. | | | | providers realize this; they realize it to the point |
| If you have ever had a DSL outage at home, | | | | that they are willing to put their commitment to |
| you know how frustrating it can be trying to get | | | | your internet access in writing in the form of the |
| things going again. Now try to imagine how | | | | SLA. |
| devastating a sudden absence of internet access | | | | A couple other key points to remember regarding |
| could be to your business. If you are like most | | | | T-1 is that it can be used to transmit both voice |
| small to medium sized business owners, your | | | | and data, and that it is a 'dedicated service.' This |
| internet access is the virtual lifeblood of your | | | | means that T-1 is transferred to and from the |
| operation. Take it away, and you cannot receive | | | | customer and Central Office without being |
| or process orders or payments or communicate | | | | combined with other internet traffic. This adds to |
| with customers or suppliers. In a nutshell, you are | | | | the overall security of the T-1 lines. |
| effectively shut down. | | | | The bottom line is that it is important for business |
| With T-1 ISP's, your service agreement will include | | | | owners and operators to truly understand the |
| a Service Level Agreement (SLA) which will | | | | benefits of T-1 bandwidth before choosing an ISP. |
| clearly define acceptable terms, including | | | | It can help avoid costly issues in the future. |